2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, New Zealand

Pre-race

The Taupo circuit changes one of the circuit's corners. The turn 12 at the end of the longest straight will be much slower with a 90-degree left-hander. A1GP will inaugurate the new changes.

It was announced that the Taupo round switch to a 30 per cent biofuel mix. This environmental initiative is the first initiative to help reduce its environmental footprint in motorsport series. The new fuel is an ethanol based-product Hiperflo E30 sourced from sugar beet in Europe and produced by Petrochem Carless. The prediction are a CO2 emissions reduction by 21% per car.

A1 Team Indonesia and Performance Racing announce their new partnership. The racing team managed by Bobby Issazadhe provide now the technical and race services like it does with A1 Team Pakistan since 2006–07. Dave Luff is the new race engineer and Bagoes Hermanto became the new Team Principal.

To avoid what happen in the last race when safety car was out during feature race, a new light close to the entry of pit lane is introduced this weekend. When the lights are on, drivers can pit but it is not counted as one of the two mandatory stops. Pits are allowed for mechanical work or to be carried out.

Qualifications

A1 Team France dominate the two practice sessions Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

|

|}

Sprint race

For this sprint race, the time is sunny with a 19 °C but wind made the track dusty. At first turn, a big collision between Malaysia, Switzerland involve also Canadian and Brazilian drivers. Alex Yoong (Malaysia) and Neel Jani (Switzerland) are out of their own cars and renounce the race. Safety car is out until lap 4. Brazil and Canada have reach the tail of the field.

New Zealand lead the race ahead of Germany, South Africa and France. Pakistan passed Indonesia for 14th. In lap 6, turn 11, Robbie Kerr (Great Britain) attempt to passes Jonathan Summerton (USA) for seventh but the two cars collide. Great Britain has suspension damage and retires.

France passes South Africa for third at turn 12, lap 10. Next lap, Tomáš Enge (Czech Republic) crash into Chris Alajajian (Lebanon) who ran tenth and was able to score the first ever point for the Lebanese team. Robert Wickens is off in lap 13, turn 1. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) won the sprint race as home victory ahead of Germany, France, South Africa, Netherlands, Ireland, USA, Portugal, Australia and India. The extra point for fastest lap is scored by Christian Vietoris for Germany.

Main race

Weather is still sunny for the main race and the mandatory pit is announced between laps 34 to 42 (the first pit stop is always included between laps 8 and 16).

New Zealand make a bad start and loses several places meanwhile Switzerland take the lead but have jumped the start. In the first lap, Safety car is out because of an accident involving India at turn 7. Safety car is back in on lap 3 and Canada passes South Africa for sixth. Next lap, Chris Alajajian (Lebanon) and Edoardo Piscopo (Italy) collide and retire, Safety car is again in track. USA and Ireland take advantage to enter in pit to repair some aerodynamics damages. Switzerland receive a drive-through penalty for Neel Jani jump-start. Robbie Kerr (Great Britain) retire in garage for mechanical problems. Safety car is in on lap 7.

The first mandatory pit stops are now available and Germany passes France in pits. In lap 16, Switzerland break its front wing moving around the outside of Pakistan, and running into the grass. Next lap, USA makes its pit stop but the mandatory window is already closed. The current order is now Germany, France, Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, China and USA. Some laps later, in lap 22, oil is in the track in turn 7 and Indonesia, Australia and Netherlands spin off resulting Safety car back out for the third time on this race. Indonesia retire and Netherlands loses two places and is now fifth. Safety car is on lap 27. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) passes Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) on turn 11, lap 28 and press now Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands). For overtaking behind the Safety car, Switzerland receive a second drive-through penalty. Adam Carroll (Ireland) take the tenth after Jonathan Summerton (USA) runs wide in lap 34. Same lap, the second window for mandatory stops is open.

Portugal is given a drive-through penalty for crossing the white line on entering the pit lane. On lap 39, Brazil passes South Africa for seventh. After mandatory pit stop, Germany lead Canada, France, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, China, USA and Netherlands. Malaysia and Pakistan collide in lap 41, turn 12. Alex Yoong (Malaysia) retire in pits. In lap 43, Cong Fu Cheng (China) spin off and stop its race.

In lap 49, Switzerland take the fastest lap of the race and the bonus point. Germany win front of Canada, only 1.180 seconds behind, followed by France, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, USA, Netherlands, Mexico and Pakistan in eleventh.

USA has been penalised 70 seconds for making its mandatory pit stop outside of the proper window. The team loses is 8th final positions and was classified 14th. Therefore, Pakistan score its first point of the season.

After race

Neel Jani announce he's available for the rest of the season for Switzerland. Its priority is won the A1GP championship and don't want to return in Champ Car World Series this year.

Tony Teixeira, A1GP chairman, congratulate Alex Yoong with a cake to mark his 50th race in the series.

Notes

• It was the 27th race weekend (54 starts).
• It was the second venue in Taupo Motorsport Park, and second in New Zealand.
• It was the first race for John Martin.
• It was the first race weekend for Tom Dillmann, Frederico Duarte, Clemente Faria, James Winslow.
• Records :
  • Alex Yoong participate on 26 races (50 starts). He start consecutively 45 races.
  • Neel Jani won 219 points.
  • Christian Vietoris is the youngest race winner at 18 years, 9 months and 19 days.
  • Lebanon participate on 27 rounds (54 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix.
  • Germany won with 3 different drivers (Michael Ammermüller, Nico Hülkenberg and Christian Vietoris).

References

References

1. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=39756 Taupo changes to 'improve passing'] ''a1gp.com'' (28 November 2007)
2. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=39922 Biofuel confirmed for Taupo] ''a1gp.com'' (18 December 2007)
3. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40093 Indonesia's new engineering squad] ''a1gp.com'' (20 January 2008)
4. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40045 Safety car pit light introduced] ''a1gp.com'' (18 January 2008)
5. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40047 Spins a plenty in Friday practice] ''a1gp.com'' (18 January 2008)
6. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40057 France continues practice pace] ''a1gp.com'' (19 January 2008)
7. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40086 Taupo Sprint: lap-by-lap] ''a1gp.com'' (20 January 2008)
8. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40094 Taupo Feature: lap-by-lap] ''a1gp.com'' (20 January 2008)
9. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40109 USA penalised for Feature pit stop] ''a1gp.com'' (20 January 2008)
10. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40126 Jani: 'A1GP is my priority'] ''a1gp.com'' (23 January 2008)
11. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40133 Alex Yoong's half-century] ''a1gp.com'' (25 January 2008)
12. link. (23 January 2008 ''results.a1gp.com'' (19 January 2008))
13. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=39955 Swiss call up rookie Dillmann] ''a1gp.com'' (29 December 2007)
14. link. (23 January 2008 ''results.a1gp.com'' (18 January 2008))
15. [[Brendon Hartley]],[http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=39981 New Zealand picks rookie Hartley] ''a1gp.com'' (10 January 2008)
16. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64688 Winslow to join Great Britain at Taupo] ''autosport.com'' (15 January 2008)
17. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40166 Fauzy replaces Yoong at Malaysia] ''a1gp.com'' (30 January 2008)
18. link. (22 January 2008 ''a1gp.com'' (21 January 2008))